In 1987 she plays one of the leading roles in the Dutch version of the musical 'Cats'
Her career took a step forwards when she was chosen to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. Out of the 8 submitted songs a professional jury selected 'Vrede' to represent The Netherlands in Millstreet, Ireland
Since that time Ruth has conquered her spot in the dutch music scene.
Heel mijn leven
Ruth Jacott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smachtend en hopend om bij jou te zijn, voor jou te zijn,
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
Smachtend en hopend, om bij jou te zijn
Als in een droom
Zo verscheen je toen
Ik was gehypnotiseerd
En als een magneet trok jij mij aan
Met je lijf tegen m'n lijf
Liet ik jou begaan
Dit moment
Laat me niet meer los
't was veel te kort
En veel te vlug
Ik wil je niet even, maar;
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
Smachtend en hopend om bij jou te zijn, voor jou te zijn,
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
Smachtend en hopend, om bij jou te zijn
't Is niet zo simpel
Om alleen te zijn
Ik heb alle adviezen genegeerd
Ik heb jou begeerd
Wat ik nu nog voel
Van die ene keer
Zit heel diep in mij van binnen
't werd steeds meer en meer
Dit moment
Laat me niet meer los
't was veel te kort
En veel te vlug
Ik wil je niet even, maar;
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
Smachtend en hopend, om bij jou te zijn.
Heel m'n leven
Bleef tot nu aan toe zo leeg
Omdat ik wat ik zocht
Maar even of amper kreeg,
Je bent mijn ideaal,
Je hebt een verhaal
Ik verlang
Al zo lang en
Ik wil je totaal...., helemaal
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
Smachtend en hopend om bij jou te zijn, voor jou te zijn,
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
Smachtend en hopend, om bij jou te zijn
The lyrics of Ruth Jacott's song "Heel Mijn Leven" are about the longing and anticipation of being with someone, and the fulfillment of that longing. The singer has been waiting their whole life for the day when they can be with their love, and when that day finally arrives, they feel like they are in a dream. They describe being pulled towards their love like a magnet, feeling hypnotized and out of sorts. The moment is brief but intense, and the singer longs to be with their love forever, to fill the void in their life.
The second verse of the song acknowledges that being alone is not easy, and that the singer has ignored all advice and pursued their desire for their love. The memory of that moment is deep within the singer, and they want to be with their love completely, not just for a moment. The chorus repeats the idea of a lifetime of waiting and hoping and wanting to be with their love.
The bridge of the song speaks to the emptiness in the singer's life before they met their love, and how their love has become their ideal, someone they have longed for for so long. The song ends with a plea to be with their love completely, to end the emptiness they have been feeling their whole life.
Line by Line Meaning
Heel m'n leven heb ik uitgekeken naar die dag
I have longed for this moment all my life
Smachtend en hopend om bij jou te zijn, voor jou te zijn
Longing and hoping to be with you, to belong to you
Als in een droom
It felt like a dream
Zo verscheen je toen
That's how you appeared back then
Ik was gehypnotiseerd
I was hypnotized
En uit m'n doen
And out of my mind
En als een magneet trok jij mij aan
You pulled me like a magnet
Met je lijf tegen m'n lijf
With your body pressing against mine
Liet ik jou begaan
I let you have your way
Dit moment
This moment
Laat me niet meer los
I can't forget it
't was veel te kort
It was too short
En veel te vlug
And too quick
Ik wil je niet even, maar;
I don't want you for a moment, but for a lifetime
Heel m'n leven
All my life
Bleef tot nu aan toe zo leeg
It has remained empty until now
Omdat ik wat ik zocht
Because what I was looking for
Maar even of amper kreeg,
I only got a glimpse or almost nothing at all
Je bent mijn ideaal,
You are my ideal
Je hebt een verhaal
You have a story
Ik verlang
I desire
Al zo lang en
For so long
Ik wil je totaal...., helemaal
I want you completely, entirely
Smachtend en hopend, om bij jou te zijn
Longing and hoping to be with you
Contributed by Jordyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
EuropopTop
Hard to find songs in the Dutch language but this is a good one - reminds me a lot of the great soul music from the 70s, or even Whitney tunes from the 80s, nice harmonising and like the full sound provided by the backing vocalists too.
Botafogoplayground
@EuropopTop Edsilia! She is amazing!
EuropopTop
@Masuka01 HI there, re: Glennis Grace Yes I think I did see her on You Tube in a group of ladies giving a concert in The Netherlands, Edsilia Rombley sounds interesting (I always liked Anita Baker, especially that breakthrough album of hers)... Will check out Ruth. Whitney of course is a hard act to beat. On her last album her voice changed considerably and yet there was so much power and control to it. A tragedy that she left us. But good that we still have singers around holding the torch so to speak (especially in other languages!).
Masuka01
@stefan titze Yes, Glennis Grace's voice comes very near Whitney Houston's voice. Have you listened to some of her live performances?
Edsilia Rombley is a singer from Holland with a great powerful and recognizable voice which can be compared to Anita Baker, Oleta Adams...
By the way, Ruth Jacott released a new album this month "Ik Adem Je In" which is doing really well in the charts... Check it out... :)
EuropopTop
@Masuka01 Hi I am from New Zealand though I have German heritage. I spend a lot of time searching the internet, I tunes and other sources looking for good music especially in other languages apart from English. I like many styles of music except anything too aggressive, but have found many good singers this year, of course well known in their own country but unknown sadly in English -speaking countries. . Then I write reviews on Amazon especially based on the album, not just one track. One of the best is Giorgia from Italy whose style is a bit like this Ruth Jacott song. As for Dutch singers, I've been told about Glennis Grace and there's Anouk but still looking for that Dutch pop singer with a great melody and great voice, apart from Ruth Jacott of course!;
Masuka01
I totally agree with you. You should listen to her song "Ik Kan Echt Zonder Jou". Her vocals will blow you away. Where are you from if I may ask?
mgmmarshall1
Geweldig gezongen! Samen met Trijntje Oosterhuis en Edsilia Rombley Nederlands beste zangeres!
Masuka01
Inderdaad. Het is erg spijtig dat de beste tracks nooit worden uitgebracht op single.
Botafogoplayground
Prachtig liedje. Geweldige zangeres.
Charles Marneffe
prachtig nummer